[Botany • 2025] Lagenandra rubra (Araceae) • A New endemic Species from Sinharaja Man and Biosphere Reserve, Sri Lanka

 Lagenandra rubra  

in Madola, Jayasinghe, D. Yakandawala et K. Yakandawala. 2025.   

DOI: doi.lorg/10.11646/phytotaxa.689.2.6 

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Abstract

During the revision of the genus Lagenandra in Sri Lanka we encountered a new species Lagenandra rubra from the Sinharaja Man and Biosphere Reserve of Sri Lanka. The new species can be differentiated from all other described Lagenandra species by its glossy dark red-maroon twisted limb and the absence of warts on the spathe. With the newly described species, the number of endemic Sri Lankan species of Lagenandra rises to fourteen, and the global total rises to twenty-three. Based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria, the new species is assessed as Critically Endangered under Criterion CR B1ab (ii, iii, iv, v) +2ab (ii, iii, iv, v).

Biodiversity conservation, Critically endangered, flora of Sri Lanka, Ornamental aquatic plants, Taxonomy, Monocots 

Indrakeela MADOLA, Himesh JAYASINGHE, Deepthi YAKANDAWALA and Kapila YAKANDAWALA. 2025. Lagenandra rubra (Araceae), A New endemic Species from Sinharaja Man and Biosphere Reserve, Sri Lanka.  Phytotaxa. 689(2); 233-242. DOI: doi.lorg/10.11646/phytotaxa.689.2.6 [2025-02-24] 

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[Paleontology• 2025] Dysopodus gezei • A 125 Million-year-old freshwater Isopod shines new light on the Origin of Subterranean Freshwater Species

 

Dysopodus gezei 

Schädel, Azar, El Hajj, Maksoud & Robin, 2025

 

DOI: doi.org/10.1098/rsos.241512 

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Artwork by Aldrich Hezekiah

Abstract

Here, we report fossil isopods preserved in laminated oil-shale mudstone (dysodile) from the Lower Cretaceous of Lebanon (Lower Barremian, 125 Ma, Grès du Liban Alloformation, Jezzine District). Based on a variety of proxies, their palaeoenvironments are determined to have been a shallow freshwater lake. The fossil isopods were studied using modern imaging techniques, such as multispectral imaging and photometric stereo, allowing for a detailed comparison of these specimens with comparable extant and fossil taxa. The conspecific fossils are herein recognized as remains of a new species—†Dysopodus gezei gen. et sp. nov.—of uncertain affinity within Cymothoida and bearing a strong resemblance to its non-parasitic lineages (Cirolanidae). A conspicuous pleotelson and uropod morphology set it apart from most species, with the notable exception of †Pseudoplakolana chiapaneca gen. nov. et comb. nov. from the Cretaceous of Mexico, originally attributed to an Australasian lineage (herein disputed). So far, the biogeographical distribution of the peri-Mediterranean underground fauna has predominantly been explained through a passive isolation process of former marine species, driven by regressing coastlines. Stemming from a freshwater lake environment, the 125 million-year-old fossils from Lebanon provide an unconventional perspective on the evolutionary origin of extant cave- and groundwater-dwelling cymothoidans.

  †Dysopodus gezei gen. et sp. nov., holotype CRU 63124/1, micro-photographic images.
(a) coaxial white light, cross-polarized. (b) visible light-induced luminescence, excitation maximum 435 nm (violet), collected light 835 nm ± 70 nm (infrared). (c) false-colour image derived from multispectral imaging, blue channel: excitation maximum 385 nm (UV), collected light 360 nm ± 23 nm (UV), green channel: excitation maximum 490 nm (cyan), collected light 571 nm ± 72 nm (yellow), red channel: excitation maximum 435 nm (violet), collected light 835 nm ± 70 nm.

 Scale bar: 3 mm. at, antenna; atl, antennula; c, carpus; plt, pleotelson; pp, propodus; pr1−2, pereonites 1−2; un, uropodal endopod; ux, uropodal exopod; ?, unknown structure, likely not part of the isopod.

 Palaeoenvironmental habitat reconstruction for †Dysopodus gezei gen. et sp. nov. (foreground) - a Barremian freshwater lake in the region of present-day Bkassine (Lebanon).

Artwork by Aldrich Hezekiah.

Mario Schädel, Dany Azar, Layla El Hajj, Sibelle Maksoud and Ninon Robin. 2025. A 125 Million-year-old freshwater Isopod shines new light on the Origin of Subterranean Freshwater Species. R. Soc. Open Sci. 12; 241512. DOI: doi.org/10.1098/rsos.241512 [02 April 2025]

 x.com/RobinNinon1/status/1907406641357636000

 

[Botany • 2025] Pilosella kalinensis (Asteraceae) • A New diploid Species in P. sect. Alpicolinae from the Rila Mountains in Bulgaria

  

 Pilosella kalinensis  Szeląg & Vladimirov,

in Szeląg & Vladimirov, 2025.  

 DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.694.2.8 

Pilosella kalinensis is a new, diploid species, discovered in extreme habitats on the highest peaks in the Rila Mountains in Bulgaria. It belongs to the P. alpicola aggregate within P. sect. Alpicolinae and is distinguished by having somewhat larger capitula covered with very dense, long, blackish, straight trichomes. It is endangered by hybridization with P. rhodopea. 

Key words: Balkan Peninsula, Compositae, hybridization, Pilosella, ploidy level, taxonomy, Eudicots 

 Pilosella kalinensis (details of the isotype).

Pilosella kalinensis Szeląg & Vladimirov, sp. nov.  

 Pilosella kalinensis (left) and P. rhodopea on Mt. Golyam Kalin (right).

Zbigniew SZELĄG and Vladimir VLADIMIROV. 2025. Pilosella kalinensis (Asteraceae), A New diploid Species in P. sect. Alpicolinae from the Rila Mountains in Bulgaria. Phytotaxa. 694(2); 201-204. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.694.2.8 [2025-03-20] 

[Herpetology • 2025] Tachymenoides goodallae • A New Species of Tachymenoides (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Tachymenini) from Peru with Comments on the Taxonomic Status of Galvarinus tarmensis (Walker, 1945)

 

Tachymenoides goodallae 

 Lehr, Lundberg, Cusi, Sites, Torres & Aguilar-Puntriano, 2025.

Goodall’s Slender Snake  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3390/taxonomy5020018 

Abstract

We describe a new species of snake of the genus Tachymenoides using molecular and morphological evidence. The description is based on 21 specimens (4 females, 17 males) obtained in the regions of Pasco, Junín, and Puno between 2190 and 3050 m elevation. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree based on two mitochondrial (12S and cyt-b) genes and one nuclear (c-mos) gene shows that the new species is the sister taxon of T. affinis and distinct from Galvarinus tarmensis, which we transfer back to Tachymenis. The new species has smooth dorsal scales without apical pits usually in 19/17/15 series, 1 preocular, 2 postoculars, 1 loreal undivided nasal scale, 8 supralabials (4th and 5th in contact with the eye), 9 infralabials, 1–2+2–3 temporals, 139–157 ventrals, 52–67 subcaudals, and a divided cloacal scale. The longest specimen, a male, had a total length of 559 mm. Two females contained six and five eggs with small embryos. In life, the dorsum and flanks are olive brown to pale grayish brown with scattered black and cream flecks and no longitudinal stripes. Ventral coloration is highly variable, nearly uniformly black, mottled gray and dark-gray, mottled pale gray and tan, or pale grayish tan. Usually, three irregularly shaped, narrow, longitudinal ventral stripes are present. The iris is brown with a distinct yellowish-tan ringlet.

Keywords: Squamata; reptiles; snakes; Andes; Pasco region; Junín region; Puno region; Tachymenis tarmensis

 

 Living holotype of Tachymenoides goodallae sp. nov. (MUSM 31152) in dorsolateral (A), dorsal (B), and ventral views (C). Total length of the snake is 524 mm.

 Photos by Edgar Lehr.

 Head of the living holotype of  Tachymenoides goodallae sp. nov. (MUSM 31152) in lateral (A), dorsal (B), and ventral (C) views. The head length is 13.8 mm.

Photos by Edgar Lehr.

 Family Dipsadidae Bonaparte, 1838 

Tribe Tachymenini Bailey, 1967 

Genus Tachymenoides Trevine et al., 2022 

Tachymenoides goodallae sp. nov. 

Lehr, Lundberg, Cusi, Sites, Torres and Aguilar-Puntriano, 2025.

 

Galvarinus tarmensis in Trevine et al. [2022].

Thamnodynastes sp. in Lehr et al. [2019].

Diagnosis: Usually 1 preocular, 10 maxillary teeth; 9 dentary teeth; dorsal scale rows smooth in 19/17/15 series; dorsal scales lacking apical pits; 140–157 ventrals in males (n = 17), 139–142 ventrals in females (n = 4); 52–67 paired subcaudals in males (n = 17), 52–56 paired subcaudals in females (n = 4); hemipenes with pronounced and deep spinulate calyces on the base of capitulum and distal portion of hemipenial body, extending onto half of the body on the asulcate side with the first proximal row of calyces distinctly larger, containing 9 calyces; in real life, the dorsum and flanks are olive brown to pale grayish brown with scattered black and cream flecks and no longitudinal stripes; the flanks are olive brown, dark brown, or dark gray, and darker than the dorsum toward the posterior body end; the head is laterally pale grayish brown or cream with a dark-brown lateral stripe from the nose to postoculars and diagonally to corner of the mouth, and contrasting dark-brown flecks on the cream supralabials and infralabials; the iris is brown with a distinct yellowish-tan ringlet; the ventral coloration is highly variable: nearly uniformly black, gray, and mottled dark gray; pale gray and mottled tan; or pale grayish tan; and usually, three irregularly shaped, narrow, longitudinal ventral stripes are present (one midventral and one ventrolateral on each side).

Life specimens of Tachymenoides goodallae sp. nov.
 (A): male (MUSM 23485, total length 534 mm) from Chacos (Pasco); (B): female (MUSM 23470) from Ingenio (Junín);
(C): male (MUSM 17813, total length 511 mm) between Auquimarca and Uchuerta (Pasco); (D): female (uncollected, total length 670 mm) from Auquimarca (Pasco);
(E): female (uncollected, total length 430 mm) from Auquimarca (Pasco); (F): male (ML 446, total length 410 mm) from Puagmaray (Pasco).

Photos by Mikael Lundberg.

Etymology: We dedicate this species to ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall for her scientific accomplishments and worldwide conservation activism, which inspire and encourage people to protect biodiversity. The English Common Name is Goodall’s Slender Snake.

 Edgar Lehr, Mikael Lundberg, Juan Carlos Cusi, Jack W. Sites, Jr., Claudia Torres and César Aguilar-Puntriano. 2025. A New Species of Tachymenoides (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Tachymenini) from Peru with Comments on the Taxonomic Status of Galvarinus tarmensis (Walker, 1945). Taxonomy. 2025, 5(2), 18; DOI: doi.org/10.3390/taxonomy5020018 [2 April 2025]

  

[Botany • 2025] Dasymaschalon buengkanicum (Annonaceae) • A New Species from Northeastern Thailand

Dasymaschalon buengkanicum Uearee, Damth. & Chaowasku, 

in Ue-aree, Damthongdee, Wiya et Chaowasku. 2025. 

โปร่งกิ่วบึงกาฬ  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.5735/085.062.0108  

 facebook.com: Tanawat Chaowasku

Dasymaschalon buengkanicum Uearee, Damth. & Chaowasku (Annonaceae), a new species from northeastern Thailand is described and illustrated. It is morphologically most similar to D. lomentaceum, but differs from it by having sparser indumentum on young twigs, thicker and wider leaf blade, longer flowering pedicel and petals, dissimilar colour of petals at maturity, and smaller monocarp constrictions to monocarp width ratio.

Dasymaschalon buengkanicum Uearee, Damth. & Chaowasku, sp. nov.

โปร่งกิ่วบึงกาฬ

Phasit Ue-aree, Anissara Damthongdee, Chattida Wiya, and Tanawat Chaowasku. 2025. Dasymaschalon buengkanicum (Annonaceae), a New Species from Northeastern Thailand. Annales Botanici Fennici. 62(1), 49-53. DOI: doi.org/10.5735/085.062.0108 (20 February 2025). 

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[Botany • 2025] Thismia aliasii (Thismiaceae) • A New Species from Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia

 

 Thismia aliasii Siti-Munirah,

in Siti-Munirah et Alias, 2025.

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.254.136085

Abstract

A new mycoheterotrophic species, Thismia aliasii, is described and illustrated. This species inhabits a hill dipterocarp forest in mountains of eastern Peninsular Malaysia. Thismia aliasii differs from other Thismia species by the following features: tepals equal in size and shape with different length of their appendages, appendages of the outer tepals shorter than those of the inner tepals (3.5 mm vs. ca. 26–32 mm long), stamen supraconnective at apex with three long filiform appendages and two acute appendages, and the margins of individual connectives abaxially raised into a conspicuous rib. With respect to floral morphology, T. aliasii should be placed to Thismia subsect. Odoardoa. According to the categories and criteria of the IUCN Red List, T. aliasii is provisionally classified as Critically Endangered (CR).

Key words: Achlorophyllous plants, endemism, Gunung Chemerong, Monocots, Terengganu, Thismia subsection Odoardoa

 Thismia aliasii 
A flowering plant (over-brightened by a camera flash) B anthetic flower, top view B1 annulus, top view B2 tip of appendage of outer tepal B3 tip of appendage of inner tepal C distal portion of flower, lateral view C1 flower, top view D floral tube (with its apex removed), side view D1 outer surface of floral tube (showing tiny glands) E inner surface of flower tube, pistil and ovary E1 longitudinal section of ovary and pistil with stigma F fruiting plant F1 seeds in capsule F2 seeds.

Photos by Siti-Munirah (A, C1: FRI 79119; A1, B–E: FRI 79167; E1, F1, F2: FRI 91119, spirit material) and Mohamad Alias (F: FRI 91119).

 Thismia aliasii 
A plant with flower and roots B top view of flower showing tepals and annulus C bract (abaxial view) D leaf (abaxial view) E style and stigma F stamens (outer view) G stamens (inner view) H fruiting plant.

All drawn by Mohamad Aidil Noordin from spirit material, FRI 91119.

Habitat and habit of Thismia aliasii
A plants in situ B plant with flower bud C plant with anthetic flower.

All photos by Siti-Munirah.

 Thismia aliasii Siti-Munirah, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis. Thismia aliasii is very similar to the species of the T. subsection Odoardoa, as the tepals are the same in shape and size. However, the tepal appendages of the new species are of unequal length, the inner ones are longer than the outer ones, while the tepal appendages of the other species are of equal length. In addition, in the new species the margins of the individual connectives are raised abaxially into the conspicuous rib, whereas connectives are almost flat abaxially in the rest of the species.

Landscapes of Gn. Chemerong and the species of Thismia found there
A the Chemerong waterfall with a height of 370 m B the Chemerong River not far from the habitat of T. aliasii
C Thismia aliasii, an individual discovered by Mohamad Alias in 2019 (FRI 91119) D Thismia aseroe (FRI 79116) found on the trail at Hutan Lipur Chemerong.

Photos by Siti-Munirah (A, B, D) and Mohamad Alias (C).

Etymology: The species is named after Mr. Alias (the second author), a current ranger of the Terengganu Forestry Department (JPNT), who is also a freelance photographer (known as John Sp) and who was the first to discover the species.

Mat Yunoh Siti-Munirah and Shakri Mohamad Alias. 2025. Thismia aliasii (Thismiaceae), A New Species from Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia. PhytoKeys. 254: 175-188. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.254.136085

[Botany • 2025] Arisaema globiceps (Araceae) • A New Species from Taiwan

 Arisaema globiceps T.C. Hsu, W.J. Huang & S.W. Chung, 
 

in Hsu, Huang et Chung, 2025. 

頂珠天南星  ||  taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/2069 

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Abstract

A new species, Arisaema globiceps (Araceae), is described from southern Taiwan. Morphologically, it is closely related to A. consanguineum and A. formosanum but can be readily distinguished by its spadix appendix, which is apically abruptly dilated into a globular knob. Additional information about its morphology, distribution and ecology is provided.

Keyword: Arisaema consanguineum, Arisaema formosanum, Aroideae, Arisaematae, taxonomy

 Morphology of Arisaema globiceps, from Hsu 11448 (A–H, J, L; type), Chang ZXC001608 (I), Hsu 14070 (K, M) and Hsu 13232 (N). A. Habitat and habit. B. Leaf. C. Tuber and plant base. D. Inflorescence. E. Male inflorescence, with spathe expanded. F– I. Globose tips of spadix appendix from different plants. J. Male spadix. K. Female spadix. L. Synandra. M. Ovaries. N. Infructescence.

Scale bars: A = 20 cm; B, D, E, N = 5 cm; C, J, K = 2 cm; F–I = 5 mm; L, M = 1 mm.

Arisaema globiceps T.C. Hsu, W.J. Huang & S.W. Chung, sp. nov.

 Diagnosis: Arisaema globiceps resembles A. consanguineum and A. formosanum in terms of gross morphology but can be readily distinguished by its globose dilation at the tip of its spadix appendix. In contrast, A. consanguineum features a clavate spadix appendix, while that of A. formosanum is filiform.

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from globus, meaning “ball” or “sphere”, and –ceps, meaning “headed”, referring to its diagnostic globose dilation at the tip of the spadix appendix. We also propose a Mandarin vernacular name “頂珠天南星”.

Tian-Chuan Hsu, Wei-Jie Huang and Shih-Wen Chung. 2025. Arisaema globiceps (Araceae), A New Species from Taiwan. Taiwania. 70(2); 281-284. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2025.70.281 [01 April 2025]

https://taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/2069

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[PaleoEntomology • 2025] Trichopria electrosinica • The First fossil Species of Trichopria Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) from the Miocene Zhangpu Biota, China

 

 Trichopria electrosinica   

Brazidec & Perrichot, 2025

DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200939 

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Illustration by Laura Bruneau.

 

Abstract

Following studies of the aculeate families Bethylidae, Chrysididae, Formicidae, and Apidae, we report here the Diapriidae, the fifth hymenopteran family from the middle Miocene Zhangpu amber of China. A fossil species belonging to Trichopria Ashmead, 1893 is described and figured from a male specimen. The new extinct species, Trichopria electrosinica n. sp., is characterized by the subround and hypognathous head, the flagellomeres each with 6–8 long setae, the metanotum with longitudinal keels, the petiole two times longer than wide and carinate, and the fore basitarsomere with a row of setae along the inner margin. Trichopria is one of the largest diapriid genus, with some species used in pest control program against fruit flies, but Trichopria electrosinica n. sp. is its first described fossil species. Its absence in older and long-known deposits is indicative of the disparate Diapriidae fossil record. Its occurrence in both China and Dominican Republic during the Miocene suggests that the genus was already widespread at that time.

Keywords: Systematics, China, amber, parasitic Hymenoptera, Diapriinae

 Trichopria electrosinica n. sp., holotype, NIGP206901.
(A) Habitus in left lateral view. (B) Detail of fore leg (arrow: fore basitarsomere). (C) Detail of anterior and mid tarsi.

Scale bars = 0.5 mm for (A); 0.25 mm for (B); 0.125 mm for (C).

Artistic illustration of  Trichopria electrosinica n. sp. in the Miocene Zhangpu forest.

Illustration by Laura Bruneau.

Order Hymenoptera Linnæus, 1758

Superfamily Diaprioidea Haliday, 1833

Family Diapriidae Haliday, 1833

Subfamily Diapriinae Haliday, 1833

Genus Trichopria Ashmead, 1893

Trichopria electrosinica n. sp.

 Type locality: Zhangpu County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, China.

Horizon: Sedimentary layer II, Fotan Group; middle Miocene (Langhian), 14.7 Ma.

Diagnosis (male): Head subround, hypognathous (Fig. 2A); antennal shelf weakly prominent; eye located medially on head (Fig. 2A); scape 5 times longer than wide, clavate and compressed (Fig. 2A); flagellomere 1 almost cylindrical (Fig. 2B); flagellomeres 2–11 longer than wide, widened apico-medially (node-like); flagellomeres with whorled long setae (Fig. 2A); pronotum and propleuron with developed cushion of setae (Fig. 2C); scutellum with median carina, without posterior pits (Fig. 2D); metanotum with longitudinal keels (Fig. 2D); fore wing stigmal vein pointed (Fig. 2F); fore basitarsomere curved with row of long erect setae along inner margin (Fig. 1B); petiole carinate, 2 times longer than wide (Fig. 2E).

Etymology: Combination of electro-, from the Greek electron meaning amber, and -sinica, for the geographical origin, China.

Manuel Brazidec and Vincent Perrichot. 2025. The First fossil Species of Trichopria Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) from the Miocene Zhangpu biota. Palaeoworld. In Press, 200939. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200939

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[Botany • 2025] Sonerila cornuta & S. phaluongensis (Melastomataceae: Sonerileae) • New Species from northern Vietnam

 

Sonerila cornuta & S. phaluongensis 

K.S. Nguyen, Aver. & C.W. Lin, 

in Nguyen, Averyanov et Lin, 2025.

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.696.2.5 

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Abstract

Two new species, Sonerila cornuta and S. phaluongensis, discovered in Vietnam, are described and illustrated. The first, superficially similar to S. reptans, however, it is distinguished by an obclavate hypanthium (vs. cylindrical-campanulate or obconical) and purple anthers (vs. yellow), with the base having two prominent S-curved lobes (vs. lobes at the base of anther short, inconspicuous). The second, is morphologically similar to Sonerila betongensis but differs in having a quadrangular, 4-winged stem (vs. terete), glabrous leaves (vs. densely hispid), shortly cylindrical hypanthium (vs. cupuliform to campanulate) that is sparsely covered with glandular hispid hairs (vs. relatively densely hispid with simple hairs), and the anther base with two prominent lobes (vs. small, inconspicuous). In addition to the formal description, line drawings, color plates, information on distribution, ecology, and conservation status, as well as comparisons with morphologically similar species, are provided for each species.

endemism, flora of Vietnam, Melastomataceae tribe Sonerileae, Pha Luong Mountain, Phu Xai Lai Leng Mountain, plant diversity, plant taxonomy, Xuan Nha Natural Reserve, Eudicots

Sonerila cornuta K.S. Nguyen, Aver. & C.W. Lin, 

Sonerila phaluongensis K.S. Nguyen, Aver. & C.W. Lin 

Khang Sinh NGUYEN, Leonid V. AVERYANOV and Che Wei LIN. 2025. New Species, Sonerila cornuta and S. phaluongensis (Melastomataceae), from northern Vietnam. Phytotaxa. 696(2); 158-168. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.696.2.5 [2025-04-01] 

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[Botany • 2025] Polygonum anatolicum (Polygonaceae) • A New unique Species from Türkiye

Polygonum anatolicum  

in Eker et Keskin, 2025. 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.696.2.8  

  facebook.com: Ismail EKER 

 

Abstract

Polygonum is a taxonomically complex genus comprising more than 173 species. The flora of Türkiye includes 34 species of Polygonum, 13 of which are endemics (two are annuals, eleven are perennials). Based on field surveys in southern Türkiye, as well as examination of specimens deposited in various herbaria, we here propose to described a new species for science, Polygonum anatolicum. This species is an annual with extremely slender stems, and can be easily distinguished from other annuals knotweeds by its zig-zag twisting, especially at the end of the branches, tiny flowers, and quickly shed basal and tiny leaves. With the new species in this article, the number of Polygonum species in Türkiye has increased to 35 and the number of endemic taxa to 14.

Amanos Mountains, Annual species, Hatay, Kızıldağ, morphology, new key, new taxon, Eudicots

  

Polygonum anatolicum

 

İsmail EKER and Mustafa KESKİN. 2025. Polygonum anatolicum (Polygonaceae): A New unique Species from Türkiye.  Phytotaxa. 696(2); 192-200. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.696.2.8 [2025-04-01]  

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[Arachnida • 2025] Mimetus guiyang & M. lanmeiae • A Survey of mimetid spiders (Araneae: Mimetidae) from Central Guizhou Province, China

 

Mimetus lanmeiae Liu, Yu & Xu,  

in J. Zhang, H. Zhang, Liu, Yu et Xu, 2025.

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.146895 

Abstract

A survey of the mimetids of Central Guizhou Province, China, is presented. A total of five species are addressed, raising the number of species of the genus Mimetus Hentz, 1832, known from this province from four to eight, making Guizhou the province with the most Mimetus species in China. Two of the taxa are new species: M. guiyang J. S. Zhang, Yu & Xu, sp. nov. and M. lanmeiae Liu, Yu & Xu, sp. nov., both from Guiyang City, provincial capital of Guizhou. The other three known species include two new records from Guizhou, M. caudatus Wang, 1990, and M. sinicus Song & Zhu, 1993, as well as a species, M. testaceus Yaginuma, 1960, that was previously recorded from the province. The female of M. caudatus is described for the first time, based on the new material from Duyun City. Detailed descriptions, diagnoses, and photographs of the two new species and M. caudatus, as well as photographs of M. sinicus and M. testaceus, are provided. The DNA barcodes of M. lanmeiae sp. nov., M. sinicus, and M. testaceus were obtained for species delimitation, matching of sexes, and future use.

Key Words: DNA barcoding, Guiyang City, morphology, new species, taxonomy

Male holotype of Mimetus lanmeiae sp. nov., habitus (A–D) and living specimen (D–F). A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Lateral view; D. Spider on web; E, F. Spider dropped on the ground.

Photographs of living specimen by Q Lu (Shenzhen). Scale bar: 1 mm (equal for A–C).

 Mimetus guiyang J. S. Zhang, Yu & Xu, sp. nov.

 Mimetus lanmeiae Liu, Yu & Xu, sp. nov.

Mimetus sinicus Song & Zhu, 1993, male (A) and female (B–C), living specimens.

Photographs of living specimens by Q Lu (Shenzhen).

 

Jianshuang Zhang, Haoshen Zhang, Jinxin Liu, Hao Yu and Xiang Xu. 2025. A Survey of mimetid spiders (Araneae, Mimetidae) from Central Guizhou Province, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 101(2): 711-734. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.146895 

 

[PaleoMammalogy • 2025] Down to Earth: Therian Mammals became more Terrestrial towards the End of the Cretaceous

 

Dryolestes, a Late Jurassic relative of the Cretaceous therians

in Janis, Martín-Serra, Theodor et Scott, 2025.  

DOI: doi.org/10.1111/pala.70004

 Artwork by James Brown.

Abstract

The end Cretaceous extinctions had a profound effect on mammalian diversity, especially on metatherians (marsupials and their extinct relatives). Could mammalian substrate preference have influenced differential survival patterns? The plant fossil record shows changing angiosperm leaf anatomy during the last ten million years of the Cretaceous that would have resulted in a greater richness of terrestrial understory habitats, and work by other researchers implies that terrestrial (vs arboreal) substrate preference promoted increased survival over the Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary for both mammals and birds. Here we use fragmentary postcranial remains of Late Cretaceous mammals and show that, at least in the Western Interior of North America, therian mammals were becoming more terrestrial in their locomotor mode towards the end of the Cretaceous.

Keywords: Mesozoic mammal, postcranial anatomy, locomotor mode, Cretaceous habitat, end Cretaceous extinction

Dryolestes (left) and Haldanodon (right), two creatures from the Late Jurassic period,

Digital reconstruction by James Brown, in consultation Pamela G. Gill.

 Copyright Pamela G. Gill.

Dryolestes, a Late Jurassic relative of the Cretaceous therians.

 Artwork by James Brown. Pamela Gill

Christine M. Janis, Alberto Martín-Serra, Jessica M. Theodor and Craig S. Scott. 2025. Down to Earth: Therian Mammals became more Terrestrial towards the End of the Cretaceous. Palaeontology. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/pala.70004 [01 April 2025] 

Researchers unlock life secrets of Jurassic mammals using X-ray imaging

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/biosci/news/2024/08/researchers-unlock-life-secrets-of-jurassic-mammals-using-xray-imaging.page